Does hair absorb oil?
On One Hand: Hair Cleans Oil Spills on WaterHuman hair is porous, and oil seeps into its outer layer. According to the Patent Storm website, 1 lb. of human hair is capable of absorbing about 5 lbs. of oil and is effective for oil spill cleanups. Cleanup crews and government agencies use hair to clean oil spills on water.On the Other: Oil Can’t Bond with HairHot oil treatments are a temporary fix for damaged, dry hair because the oil does not bond with the hair. Oil becomes trapped inside the hair layers to give the appearance of healthier, shinier hair. According to NASA, hair makes a good medium for oil cleanup because the oil literally can be wrung out of the hair, and the material can be re-used.Bottom LineWhen using standard definitions that absorption requires two components bonding together, hair does not absorb oil. According to government reports and usage, the ability for hair to trap oil makes it a good medium to remove oil from water.
